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Is there lead in your lipstick?

The cosmetics industry in the United
States gets by being very loosely regulated despite the fact that
consumers are putting these products on their bodies and may even
accidentally ingest them at some point in their lives. The idea of
“all natural” in reference to cosmetics is also unregulated, so
you can't trust a package based solely on its sustainable looking
design, even if it says its all natural. Instead you should pay
attention to the back of the box, its likely that most of the
cosmetics you use on a daily basis have 10 or more kinds of chemicals
in them.

First and foremost is lead. Lipsticks
have notoriously been cited for including more than a “safe limit”
of lead, Proctor & Gamble, L'oreal and Revlon being the worst
offenders. (Wondering how your lipstick measures up? More info here)
Unlike some chemicals that may leave the body after some time, lead
will build up and create learning, language and behavioral problems,
which makes it very dangerous for children and pregnant women to
use.

Synthetic dyes are regulated by the FDC
but that doesn't mean they're safe. These dyes are made from coal tar
which has been found to cause cancer when injected into lab rats and
have been banned from use across the globe because of their
carcinogenic properties. D&C Red 6 dye is used in many different
cosmetics even though it may contain mercury and arsenic in addition
to lead.

Other chemicals you need to keep an eye
out for are Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) which is used to achieve a shiny
varnish look to manicures and pedicures but is dangerous for the
nervous system when inhaled. Diazolidinyl and Imidazolidinyl Urea are
two chemicals that work as formaldehyde releasers, slowly inundating
your body with formaldehyde, a chemical used for embalming and a
known human carcinogen. Triclosan is another chemical to look out
for, as it has been approved for use in toothpaste and facial scrub
despite it being developed for use as a surgical scrub.

When most of your products including
synthetic lipsticks and glosses, sunscreens, lotions, and deodorants
contain dangerous chemicals and metals that can and may give your
cancer or any slew of neurological or reproductive problems, is it
really worth it to continue to buy these unregulated synthetic
brands? In the long run it may be more cost effective to buy
legitimately natural products, if not for the money for the possible
future you might save yourself from.